Name: BA (Hons) Sports Coaching with Physical Education
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BA (Hons) Sports Coaching with Physical Education

UCAS CODE: SPPH (Full-time) or SPEF (Foundation Year)

TARIFF: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)

Overview
Course Details
Entry Requirements
Modules
Fees
Employability
Teaching Team

Study Mode: Full Time
Location: High Wycombe
Duration: Three or Four Years
Start Date: September 2025

Do you want to inspire a generation to develop a passion for physical activity and sport? Our Sports coaching with physical education course is the perfect springboard for a range of career opportunities within teaching or a sport related coaching profession.

Whether you are helping elite athletes on their journey to superstardom or just getting people more active, you can do what you love to do every day and use your skills to teach people the value of physical activity and education.

No. 1 in the UK for Student Satisfaction*

*Positivity ranking amongst registered students (NSS 2024)

No. 1 Students' Union in the UK*

*Based on responses from registered students (NSS 2024)

Why study BSc Sports Coaching with Physical Education?

Pathway to Teaching and Coaching Careers

This course serves as a springboard for various career opportunities within teaching or sports-related coaching professions. It focuses on preparing you to inspire individuals across different age groups to develop a passion for physical activity and sport. This means not only will you have access to first-hand accounts from those working while you study, you’ll also create helpful networks for your job search through our partnerships. As a Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme delivery site you will experience a vibrant and applied sports setting to enhance your employability skills.

Strong Industry Partnerships

Our links with industry partners will enable you to seek volunteering and work opportunities in local sports and related organisations. With our application focused courses and teaching we can give you increased knowledge of the exciting career that awaits you beyond graduation.

We work with some incredible partners like the which is home to several governing bodies in sport, Leap (County Sports Partnership), , and , to name just a few.

Access to Specialized Facilities and Support

You can utilize state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Human Performance Laboratory, and gain support in externally recognized coaching qualifications in various sports. Additionally, the course offers work experience placements within local schools, colleges, and sports clubs, subject to a successful DBS check. We also have a lively student sport community for you to join while you are here with our Students' Union. Get involved in free societies, trips, social events, sports competitions and guest visits. We are also only 45 minutes from London so perfect if you are planning to commute from home.

What will I study?

This course combines both a theoretical, practical and tailored approach to suit your individual needs. We focus on the current school PE curriculum and various teaching styles you could use to deliver the curriculum. You'll be prepared with the subject knowledge and teaching skills needed to progress with confidence.

We can also offer support in getting external teacher training and sport coaching qualifications. We will teach you how to engage with the community and coaching industries in a variety of ways both in the community and in the school teaching environment.

Designed to meet the needs of a teaching institution this course is focused on helping you to become an educator and mentor in secondary, college or private school organisations. However, we also introduce you to mainstream coaching practices, relevant research, sport and exercise psychology, performance analysis with top level athletes and contemporary cultural issues.

You'll gain the opportunity to obtain externally recognised coaching qualifications in a variety of sports as well as explore work experience within local schools, colleges, sports clubs, and other community sport organisations subject to a successful DBS check.

Our sport coaching with physical education course shares its first year with the other sport courses. This means we can introduce you to various courses at the start, and if you want to study a different course you can choose to switch to another sport coaching course after your first year

Buckinghamshire New University sports hall with two people playing basketball

What facilities can I use?

Our Human Performance, Exercise and Wellbeing Centre includes our Human Performance Lab (HPL) and our Sports and Wellbeing Clinic. Equipped for assessing the function and performance of a wide range of human physiological, biomechanical and psychological parameters, the HPL aids you in understanding how a patient or athlete achieves their desired results.

You'll learn how to use cutting-edge body analysis and research tools for sport, exercise and therapy. Our facilities include an indoor three-lane running track, 3D motion-capture technology as well as advanced body and performance measurement technology.

With the knowledge you need to enhance athletes’ performance and assist with injury prevention and rehabilitation, we will give you a key understanding of what an athlete in the field expects in their training regime, recovery and competition phases through the use of our unique facilities.

We also have our Gateway gym on our High Wycombe Campus, where you can benefit from great student rates. You’ll be able to get personalised help and advice from gym trainers, use a range of fitness equipment and choose from a variety of exercise classes.

How will I be taught and assessed?

Assessment tasks are used as far as possible to link theory with practice, assessing knowledge and understanding alongside subject-specific skills as your modules are completed. Team working is incorporated into the programme to help you engage in more complex projects, getting you familiar with how you’ll work with colleagues in your future career.

Assessments are a mix of coursework, including essays and reports, and practical and authentic modes of showing your knowledge, including presentations, portfolios, team projects, lab practical’s, and the production and delivery of coaching plans. Some of the ways you will be assessed include:

essays
reports
case study analysis
presentations
reflective writing and portfolios
team projects
lab sessions
production and delivery of coaching plans

BA (Hons) Sports Coaching Programme Specification

What are the course entry requirements?

A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)

UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.

A minimum of two full A-levels (or equivalent) is required. Every application is considered on an individual basis.

For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.

Those with no previous study, work experience, or who do not meet the specified entry requirements, including demonstrating the necessary knowledge and understanding, are welcome to apply for the 3-year BA (Hons) degree, however may be offered the four-year programme which includes a Foundation Year.

Modules

This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.

Foundation Year

Core Modules

Human Behaviour

Learn the key principles of human behaviour and how they relate to other fields of study and practice. Discover more about the cognitive and social aspects of human behaviour such as how we perceive, remember and think, what motivates us, and how we interact with others. You will also develop your academic writing skills for research.

Research Matters

Discover how research drives the fundamentals of science degrees. You will explore the fascinating world of research and its different types, such as: Quantitative and qualitative research, Primary and secondary research, Experimental and observational research. You will also learn how to apply research methods in your studies.

Human Science – Dissecting the details

Dive into the core principles and theories that form the foundation of education, sport, psychology, criminology, health and social sciences. This module will enable you to identify the principles of human science across different disciplines and apply them as you progress to your chosen pathway.

Human Communication

��Ӱ�� the theoretical underpinnings of communication. We equip you with the skills to navigate various communication scenarios. You will develop an understanding of effective communication techniques, the influence of context, and the nuances of verbal and non-verbal cues. You’ll be better able to present your ideas to others.

Exploring Intersections

Make the connections between multiple subjects within human and social science with this module. You will explore the theories at the intersection of human sciences. This will provide you with a platform to examine how different theories shape our understanding and contribute to the complexities of shared human experience.

Knowledge Unleashed

Focus on applying theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, testing your problem-solving abilities. The module will see you taking part in industry focused studies in a group project. By the end of this module, you will learn how to think on your toes, lead and innovate to get the knowledge you learned from your degree into practice.

Year 1

Core Modules

Credits

Introduction to Coaching

Credits: 20

Gain a foundation of knowledge underpinning various sports coaching theories and experience practical coaching sessions as both a coach and a participant. Use knowledge of the coaching process, coaching pedagogy, and principles of coaching science to create effective coaching sessions. This module will have the opportunity to supplement learning wi...

Introduction to Research in Sport

Credits: 20

Designed to introduce you to the principles and practices of academic practice and academic research in the sports domain. You’ll study key areas of empirical research to provide a conceptual understanding of reporting styles, basic methodologies, professional and regulatory codes of practice & analytical techniques applied within sports research.

Sport in Society

Credits: 20

This module will introduce you to the concepts of sport as a part of social and cultural life, and to the structures and organisations that govern and deliver sport. Re-look at your sports knowledge from a sociological perspective and come to an understanding about importance of sport and physical activity as well as some of the issues that can imp...

Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology

Credits: 20

This module will introduce you to the concepts of psychology within the context of sport and exercise, considering how psychological constructs such as personality and motivation can impact upon sport and exercise performance, participation, and adherence. You’ll then further explore the impact of cognition and emotion on behaviour.

Human Systems and Movement

Credits: 20

This module will introduce you to human energy systems and their application to exercise. It will allow you to consider how the human body adapts and changes to the demands of various sports. You’ll also be provided with a necessary understanding of human anatomical structure and function with a focus on movement and exercise analysis.

Year 2

Core Modules

Credits

Coaching and Pedagogy in Practice

Credits: 20

This module will focus on aspects of growth and development of athletes and the appropriate strategies to deliver effective coaching sessions to a variety of participants. This module will provide you with the opportunity to put theory into practice through collaborative working with school-age participants.

Inclusive Practice in Sport and Physical Activity

Credits: 20

This module gives you the opportunity to develop your social awareness by introducing you to the challenges of responding to diverse needs, capabilities, and preferences in sport and physical activity, relating especially to gender, ethnicity, age, disability, and levels of income.

Performance Analysis

Credits: 20

The module will provide a framework where sports coaches can apply the coaching process and develop techniques to evaluate sports performance, particularly technical and tactical analysis. This will include a review of pertinent scientific elements of training/performance.

Research Methods

Credits: 20

This module aims to provide you with the knowledge needed to produce research of sufficient quality to make a valuable contribution to the sport industry. You’ll study the conceptual issues and practical considerations through the entire process of research, including the underlying philosophical debates about the nature of knowledge.

Applied Physical Education

Credits: 20

This module aims to equip you for coaching or teaching roles in a school setting. You may choose to support the delivery of fundamental movement skills in early year or primary education or aim to complete formal QTS training as a secondary PE teacher. This module will provide the education context for skills and knowledge developed in level four m...

Working in Physical Education

Credits: 20

This module provides you with the opportunity to continue to develop your critical understanding of physical education and the school environment through experiential learning. It provides you with the opportunity to create a professional portfolio to support your progression to QTS and teacher training.

Year 3

Core Modules

Credits

Coaching Leadership

Credits: 20

��Ӱ�� methods to utilise and collaborate with industry-wide support networks and internal team members to ensure the most effective coaching services are delivered to participants. You’ll be encouraged to use up-to-date knowledge of wider issues affecting the coaching environment to proactively influence best practice across the coaching team.&nb...

Extended Independent Work

Credits: 40

This module aims to provide you with the opportunity to gain experience in undertaking project work at a strategic level. You will have the opportunity to think about how they might bring about evidence-based change or innovation in their practice area.

Contemporary Issues in Sport and Physical Education

Credits: 20

This module is informed by both the latest academic research and industry-insider knowledge. It tasks you with thinking about the current situation in sport and physical education, including issues, problems, as well as more positive developments, and to consider the implications in the short, medium, and long-term.

Psychology of Physical Education and Youth Sport

Credits: 20

Gain a critical examination of key psychosocial, emotional and developmental factors which affect children and teenagers in physical education and youth sport settings. The module aims to provide you with practical suggestions for how to create a positive motivational climate as adults working with young people in youth sport or physical education.

Optional Modules

Credits

Skills Acquisition OR

Credits: 20

This module will provide you with a theoretical framework for understanding how performers progress from novice to expert performers. During the module, key psychological concepts of learning will be reviewed, following which the biomechanical philosophies that determine, constrain and regulate movement will also be discussed.

Skills in Leadership, Enterprise and Small Business

Credits: 20

With the graduate employment market becoming increasingly congested many students will consider becoming self-employed within the sector. This module will help prepare you for small business start-up, by developing principles of entrepreneurship, business development and marketing skills.

What are the tuition fees

Home

Home Foundation Year, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £9,535 *
Home, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £9,535 per year *

International

Overseas/International Foundation Year, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £15,150 *
Overseas/International, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £15,150 per year *

Following the Government’s announcement of 4 November 2024, we will be increasing our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for UK students to £9,535 per year from the start of the 2025/26 academic year. Our part-time fees for UK undergraduate students will increase to £7,145 per annum. Please visit , on the Government’s website, for more information about the changes.

Tuition fees for Home undergraduate students (including with foundation year) may increase in subsequent years for both new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Government.  

Tuition fees for both new and continuing international students may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year.  

Tuition fees for postgraduate courses and CPD may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year. This increase will apply to both new and continuing students.  

We understand, and really appreciate, the significant financial commitment our students make when they choose to study at BNU. We take our responsibilities to our students very seriously, and are ambitious for each to reach their full potential and succeed in their chosen career. Our fees help us to continue providing our students with a high-quality education, and to invest in the services and facilities which create an excellent student experience at BNU.

The following factors will be considered by the University when we set the annual fees: measures of inflation such as the retail price indices; projected increases in University costs; and any changes in the level of funding for teaching received from the Government.

Additional course costs and financial support

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.
You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.

What are my career prospects?

Many of our graduates go on to have careers as a PE Teacher, work in education or sports coaching and contribute greatly to society using the skills they gained on this course. Some students also enter community work or pursue other sports-related careers after graduation, and your career prospects are exciting.

Our degree will help prepare you for a range of career possibilities, such as:

community sports coaching
performance sports coaching
PE teaching
sports development

You can also choose to study for a postgraduate course. In addition, our programme is structured in such a way that you will gain core skills that are transferable to a wide range of different teaching careers, giving you the confidence to succeed in whatever career you pursue.